Air Conditioner Amperage Draw

[CVanDamme]

We have a 3000watt, 2500watt continuous inverter, will it fire up and run a 13,500btu roof top air conditioner?

Bonus question, If it don't work how do we get the smoke back in the inverter?

Thanks

[Steve]

It could probably run the AC but might not be able to take the initial starting of the motor.

The worst that would happen if you did try it is that it would trip the breaker on the inverter.

[GoneCamping]

In theory it should work. The 13.5k btu roof top air is rated for 20 amps, but actually uses about 18 amps. At 115vac that adds up to 2070 watts.... If you try this, you would want an inverter that has room to spare, stick with 3000W peak load and at least 2000W continuous....

[the_experience03]

I'm a little curious where the 150 amps of DC current to operate that thing is going to come from....

[waywardfool]

read this, has some real-world numbers (although it IS a sales site)

1/2 way down the page where it says "Running Your Sprinter's 110V Roof A/C"

http://www.sportsmobile.com/2_sr_heatingcooling.html

Also I've read of a 'soft-start' modification for the a/c units, but don't have any links handy. You may want to google around some.

[eggman]

My 2002 carrier 13,500 btu AC unit has 12.8 amps draw on the label. However, when I check it with an amp meter, its drawing 13.2. Even my older Dometic AC unit only draws 15.8 amps when running. I dont know what it draws upon start up, but the label on the carrier unit calls for a LRA rating of 60 amps.

[Steve]

The problem with using a unit that is close to your max power is that there will be huge current spike when the unit turns on so you will need to make sure your inverter has power to spare to start it up.

[bdavis441]

Originally Posted by CVanDamme

We have a 3000watt, 2500watt continuous inverter, will it fire up and run a 13,500btu roof top air conditioner?

Bonus question, If it don't work how do we get the smoke back in the inverter?

Thanks

silly man, everyone knows that once the magic smoke gets out, the unit is no good!

[QuagmireMan]

Did you ever get it working?